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Best Schools for Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering graduates earn a median of $75,450 within two years of graduation, ranking #3 out of 292 tracked majors — 113% above the median across all fields. There are 19 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,545 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Texas A&M University-College Station graduates earn $92,124 while Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College graduates earn $60,099 — a $32,025 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Petroleum Engineering graduates see an average -7% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

19
Schools
$75,450
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#3
of 292 Majors
1,545
Graduates

Public vs Private: Petroleum Engineering

Public (17 schools)
$75,410
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (2 schools)
$75,799
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $389 more in early earnings on average for Petroleum Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Petroleum Engineering by State

Texas
5 schools
$83,817
Oklahoma
2 schools
$85,520
Louisiana
2 schools
$60,994
Montana
1 schools
$78,343
Colorado
1 schools
$77,213
Alaska
1 schools
$75,889
New Mexico
1 schools
$75,204
Wyoming
1 schools
$73,949

Top Petroleum Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$92,124
2yr Earnings
1yr: $84,377
Grads: 121
Acceptance: 63.2%
#2
U

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

$91,017
2yr Earnings
1yr: $78,626
Grads: 101
Acceptance: 76.5%
#3
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$88,723
2yr Earnings
1yr: $87,293
Grads: 58
Acceptance: 29.1%
#4
T

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX · Public

$87,532
2yr Earnings
1yr: $88,833
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 84.5%
#5
T

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$83,325
2yr Earnings
1yr: $89,229
Grads: 108
Acceptance: 70.9%
#6
U

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK · Private

$80,022
2yr Earnings
1yr: $85,730
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 58.0%
#7
M

Montana Technological University

Butte, MT · Public

$78,343
2yr Earnings
1yr: $94,544
Grads: 69
Acceptance: 89.9%
#8
C

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Public

$77,213
2yr Earnings
1yr: $94,022
Grads: 155
Acceptance: 59.7%
#9
U

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK · Public

$75,889
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#10
N

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM · Public

$75,204
2yr Earnings
1yr: $70,180
Grads: 59
Acceptance: 54.0%
#11
U

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

$73,949
2yr Earnings
1yr: $77,157
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 97.4%
#12
U

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND · Public

$72,762
2yr Earnings
1yr: $84,111
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 77.1%
#13
M

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO · Public

$72,214
2yr Earnings
1yr: $80,601
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 73.1%
#14
M

Marietta College

Marietta, OH · Private

$71,575
2yr Earnings
1yr: $76,751
Grads: 70
Acceptance: 78.6%
#15
U

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$67,380
2yr Earnings
1yr: $73,141
Grads: 209
Acceptance: 69.5%
#16
U

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public

$63,005
2yr Earnings
1yr: $71,179
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 88.2%
#17
U

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA · Public

$61,888
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,557
Grads: 105
Acceptance: 88.8%
#18
W

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $74,468
Grads: 93
Acceptance: 86.3%
#19
L

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA · Public

$60,099
2yr Earnings
1yr: $75,560
Grads: 171
Acceptance: 74.0%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Mathematics and Computer Science $84,401 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering $81,473 Operations Research $73,589 Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering $72,650 Mining and Mineral Engineering $72,531 Construction Engineering $71,301

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Petroleum Engineering?
Texas A&M University-College Station ranks #1 for Petroleum Engineering with median graduate earnings of $92,124 within two years. There are 19 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Petroleum Engineering graduates earn?
Petroleum Engineering graduates earn an average of $75,450 within two years of graduation. This is 113% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $60,099 to $92,124 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Petroleum Engineering program?
The average acceptance rate across Petroleum Engineering programs is 73.3%. The most selective program is at The University of Texas at Austin with a 29.1% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Petroleum Engineering?
Private Petroleum Engineering programs average $75,799 in early earnings vs $75,410 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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